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- Title
The Tree That Built America—Not Making the Grade.
- Authors
Germain, René H.; Nowak, Chris A.; Wagner, John E.
- Abstract
Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.) is capable of impressive yields on a wide range of sites, but that volume is often skewed to low grade because of black knots. In this case study, we examined log and lumber yields from two contrasting sites in the Adirondacks of New York. A subsample of butt logs was isolated from each site to quantify the benefits of pruning. Lumber grade distribution was the same for both sites, with 60% represented by lower grades. As expected, stems with pruned butt logs yielded the highest quality lumber. We examined landowner returns using historical management data over a 106-year rotation from the high-quality site. At a property tax rate of between $8 and $17/acre/year, a landowner can expect a real positive return of $15,794 to $1,065, respectively, on their investment, given a real hurdle discount rate of 4%. Although these results are positive, different silvicultural regimes could have improved grade recovery and heightened financial returns.
- Subjects
WHITE pine; PINE; ECOLOGICAL resilience; FOREST management; FOREST landscape design; PLANT reproduction
- Publication
Journal of Forestry, 2016, Vol 114, Issue 5, p552
- ISSN
0022-1201
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.5849/jof.15-089